Check-valve for sprinkler systems.



J. P. ASHEY.

CHECK VALVE FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMSr APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 191-5- Patented May 30, 1916.

Mfrzemsas.

JOHN P. ASHEY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHECK-VALVE FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed March 23, 1915. Serial No. 16,373.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. AsnEY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at lVorcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Check-Valves for Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by a drawing forming a part of the same.

My invention relates to that class of check valves employed to cut ofi the water sup ply from a series of sprinkler heads, the valve being normally closed by the pressure of water upon its upper surface, until such time as one or more of the sprinkler heads have been released, and the object of my invention is to obviate some of the disadvantages incident to the use of a resilient gasket in connection with a valve seat provided with an annular groove through which water is admitted, for the purpose of operating an alarm system.

The objects of my invention are attained by the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, 1 denotes a chamber forming part of the circulatory system through which water under pressure is supplied to the sprinkler heads. The chamber 1 has an inlet passage 2 communicating with a source of water supply and normally closed by a check valve 3. The chamber has also an outlet opening 4 leading to the pipes upon which the sprinkler heads are mounted. The check valve 3 consists of a metallic disk 5, which in the present instance is connected with a swinging arm 6 pivoted at 7 in the casing of the chamber 1. The disk 5 overlaps a valve seat 8 which is provided with an annular groove 9 communicating with a water passage 10 leading to an alarm apparatus of any known type, such as usually employed in connection with sprinkler systems for the purpose of sounding an alarm when a sprinkler head has been released. The device for operating an alarm forms no part of my present invention and is therefore not herein illustrated or described.

In order to secure a perfect closure of the water passage by the check valve 3 a gasket 11 is employed, preferably of some resillent material which is interposed between th metallic disk 5 and the valve seat, said gasket being clamped to the disk 5 by a plate or Washer 11*. It is the usual practice to employ a flat gasket of uniform thickness overlapping the entire surface of the valve seat. When a gasket of this kind is employed the pressure of the gasket upon the valve seat causes the under surface of the gasket to become molded to conform to the annular groove 9, forming a rib on the urn der side of the gasket which is liable to retard the lifting of the check valve under slight variation of pressure, and when the check valve is slightly lifted, as may occur by the release of a single sprinkler head, the rib formed upon the under side of the gasket is not sufficiently cleared from the groove 9 to permit a full flow of water through the passage 10 to the alarm apparatus, thereby unduly delaying the sounding of the alarm after the sprinkler head has been released.

In order to obviate the above mentioned difficulty I employ a gasket 11 which overlaps that portion of the valve seat within the groove 9, with its outeredge abutting against a rib 12 formed on the under side of the disk 5 and registering with the groove 9 in the valveseat. The gasket 11 is therefore held from lateral expansion under pressure, on the outer edge by the rib 12, and on its inner edge by the shoulders 13 and 15 on the disk 5 and washer 11, respectively. The outer portion of the valve seat 8 is covered by a supplemental gasket 14: held between the rib 12 and an overlapping lip 16 formed on the edge of the disk 5. The rib 12 is of substantially the same Width as the groove 9 so that neither of the gaskets 11 or 14- extend over the groove 9, while at the same time the entire width of the valve seat is brought into contact with the gasket. The gasket 11 is firmly clamped between the disk 5 and the washer 11, while the gasket 14 is firmly secured in place by any suitable means, such for example, as a beveled surface on the inner side of the lip 16, the gasket being compressed into position.

I claim,

1. A check valve of the class described, comprising a valve seat provided with an annular groove, a metallic disk covering the valve seat, an annular rib on the side of said disk opposing the valve seat, said rib being opposite the groove in the valve seat, and

gaskets on opposite sides of said rib con tacting with the valve seat. 7 r

2; A check valve of the class described, comprising a valve seat provided With an annular groove, a metallic disk covering the valve seat having a rib opposite said groove and of substantially the same width, gaskets contacting with the sides of said rib, and

means for holding said gaskets in position.

tallic disk for retaining said gasket in place.

4;. A check valve of the class described, a

valve seat having an annular'groove, a metallic disk covering said valve seat and having a rib on its-under side opposite said groove, and annular gaskets between the disk and valve seat abutting the sides of said rib. r i J 5. A check valve of the class described,

' comprising a valve seat having an annular groove, a metallic disk covering the valve seat, interposed annular gaskets, and a rib between said gaskets and opposite the groove in the valve seat of less thickness than said gaskets.

6. A check valve of the class described, comprising a valve seat having an annular groove, a metallic disk covering said valve seat, a pair of annular gaskets between said disk and the valve seat, a rib integral with said disk between said gaskets and opposite the groove in the valve seat, and an annular lip'on said disk overlapping one of said gaskets. 7. A check valve of the class described, comprising a valve seat having an annular groove, a metallic disk covering said valve seat, gaskets interposed between said disk and said valve seat on opposite sides of said groove, a rib on said disk opposite the groove in the valve seat contacting with the contiguous edges of said gaskets, and shoulders on said disk contacting with the opposite edges of said gaskets.

V 7 JOHN P. ASHEY.

Witnesses:

NELLIE WHALEN, ROY D. TOLMAN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for flvc cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. 0. 

